How
To Sew Cushion Covers
You can make inexpensive
cushion covers. They are easy to
make.
Sewing your own cushion
covers is very simple it's basically just a
square! And you can make the closure as simple
or ornate as you want. You can even add piping
for that special touch.
Suitable Fabrics &
Notions
For the fabric, you can use
just about anything! From heavy furnishing
fabrics to soft silks, cushion covers come in
all varieties.
And because you need so
little fabric, you might even be able to grab a
bargain from the remnants bin!
Another great alternative is
tea towels. If you're like me, you are given
more tea towels than you can use in a lifetime.
So why not put them to good use as cushion
covers they're the perfect size!
How Much Fabric to Buy
Here in Australia the
standard cushion size is 16" square (or 42cm
square). You can check yours by removing it
from it's cover and measuring it. Don't just
measure across make sure you measure all the
way to the seam, as we need to allow for the
cushion width.
Now we just need to add 1"
or 3cm to the width (for seam allowance) and
allowance to the height for seam allowance and
closure. How much you add to the height depends
on what type of closure you will be using (see
below).
Don't forget you'll need 2
pieces of fabric this size for each cushion
cover.
So, let's say you are making
4 cushion covers with the standard seam
allowance for your closure. You'll need:
4 cushions x 2 squares at
18" by 18" (I've rounded up from 17") which is
36" by 72" or 1 yard long by 2 yards wide
(depending how wide your roll of fabric
is).
In metric, you'll need 4
cushions x 2 squares at 45cm by 45cm which is
90cm by 180cm or 1 metre long by 180cm wide
(depending how wide your roll of fabric
is).
Cushion Closures
The traditional type of
closure for a cushion cover is a zipper
(usually 13" or 33cm long). If you are using a
zip closure, you'll just need a standard seam
allowance for the height of 1" or 3cm.
If zips are too much
trouble, then you can try a button closure.
With a button closure we need extra fabric at
the top to fold over and close on one side. So
you'll need one side with the standard seam
allowance for the height of 1" or 3cm, and one
with additional allowance of 3" or 7 cm. Don't
forget to buy buttons, and remember you'll need
to create button holes if you use this method
(I find these harder to do than zips!).
The lazy way to do it (and
don't get me wrong I'm all for the lazy way) is
to use either stick on Velcro (not so good for
an item that gets washed often), sew on Velcro,
or pop studs. Pop studs come either in metallic
or plastic form (they're the things they use to
put the closures on doona covers), and you'll
need to buy them in a kit with the little
thingamajig that attaches them. I've got one
they are so easy to use!
To Make Your Pattern
Fold your fabric in half
with right sides together. Now just mark out
your squares (including seam allowance) with
tailors chalk and cut out. You only need to
mark out the number of squares equal to the
number of covers you are making, as we have the
fabric doubled over.
If you are using button
closures, you can do this using a single layer
of fabric, as some of your squares will be
different sizes (to allow for the button
closure fold over). In this case, you need to
mark out double the number of squares to
cushion covers as we have only a single layer
of fabric.
To Make Up
With right sides together,
sew both side seams and the bottom of the
cushion cover together. Warning if you are
using a button closure, stop your side seams
5/8" from the top so you can hem the top edges
individually.
Zip Closure: mark on the top
edges of your fabric where the zip will be
placed, and sew from the outer edge in as far
as the end of your zip at both edges. Iron the
seam open. Now pin your zip in place and
sew.
Pop or Velcro Closure:
stitch together the top seam from the outer
edge in to about 1" or 4cm. Do the same on the
other side. Iron the seam open. Now hem the
opening section of this seam (so that when you
pull apart the closure to remove the cover the
seam stays with the cushion). You can now
attach your Velcro or pop closures.
Button Closure: Pin the
standard hem allowance on the extended top of
your cushion and stitch. Repeat on the other
top edge. Turn your cushion right way around
and mark on the extended top of your cushion
where you want the button holes (I recommend
doing this with the cushion inside the cover.
Now sew your button holes, cut open, and stitch
your buttons in place.
And that's it!
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